designed by Ginny Dexter for her 5th grade classes

You have already chosen a planet to advertise. You have imagined an
alien from that world and are creating it.

Now, you need to draw and color the probe or rover for your planet.
You need to label each part. Write a description under each label explaining
the part. One side of the page should be the labeled picture and the other
side should be a story explaining your solar system machine that you have
designed. This needs to include:

name of probe/rover

where it's going

why it has been sent

when it will give feedback to us

how it travels

describe its jobs

Homework: make your rover or probe using anything you can find around the
house. Plan an oral report to explain your probe/rover and demonstrate its
purpose.

Invent an Alien

It is your goal to construct a model of an alien being that could live
on the world that you picked. You need to create a three-dimensional model
made from any material you can find around the house. You have a week
to complete this task. You need to write a half-page to one-page description
of your alien being, stating why it has the characteristics you have selected.

What are some of the requirements for a "being" to exist on the world
you chose? These should include:

a means to get food

possibly a way to move around the planet

a way to breathe

other means to sense the environment, equivalant to our five senses.

other suggestions you may have, such as the effect of a gravitational
pull that is much larger or smaller than we experience.

Internet Research - Technology Lab Sheet

Go to the Mars Team Online Home Page.
View at least 4 images.

Name the images you see and write two very descriptive sentences describing
the image.

Where would you like to go if you could go anywhere in the Solar
System?

Imagine it's not 1996, but far into the future. Tourist travel to the
planets is just becoming possible and you are working for the first interplanetary
travel agency, "Planet Mars Tours, Inc." Your group is going to create
a series of brochures or travel posters designed to attract the first
space tourists.

Think and discuss in your group:

What wonders of Mars do you feel would be most appealing?

What adventures could be expected for the well-equipped adventurer
-- Ballooning on Mars? Sulfur-surfing on Mars?

What creature comforts would be required to tame the chill of Mars?

What incredible sights are there to see on Mars?

Find and discuss the most exciting sites and sights offered by your
planet.

What resort attractions might 21st-century technology bring? Snow
machines creating a long downhill ski run from a mighty Martian volcano?

INDIVIDUAL WORK:

Journey Through the Solar System Poster/Brochure

You are an interplanetary travel agent. Your job is to publicize the
Planet __________________. You are trying to convince Earthlings to visit
and vacation there!
Be sure to include the following factual information:

..photos or drawings
..distance from sun or position from sun
..length of day (rotation)
..length of year (revolution)
..atmosphere
..number of moons/rings
..size
..composition (gas or solid)
..gravity
..method of travel
..temperature